Armagh Masters go in search of a second All Ireland title in a row this weekend when they lock horns with Roscommon. The Orchard County defeated Sligo in the Challenge Cup decider last season.
Saturday will also be their third All-Ireland final appearance in succession, three years after getting up and running. They lost out to Limerick in the Spirit Cup finale back in 2023.
Roscommon stand in their way of a second All-Ireland crown and Armagh make the long journey west. They clash at St Bridget’s, Kiltoon, with Derry and Waterford meeting in the Spirit Cup as the curtain raiser.
The Orchard County, managed by Pearse Og duo Adrian Clarke and Aidan Sutton, have played seven games already this year. They picked up four wins from those outings, while losing three times.
Those wins came against Ulster foes Antrim and Monaghan while they also beat Louth. Their fourth triumph came in their a semi-final showdown with Cork. The Rebel side had already beaten them earlier in the season.
Cork edged a six-goal thriller back in round five, securing a 3-13 to 3-7 win. But the Armagh Masters got their revenge when it really matters and majors from Pauric Duffy and Brian McGeary proving crucial in their 2-9 to 1-10 win.
A host of fresh faces have really aided their cause in 2025. The likes of Duffy, Conor Clarke and Paul Carvill have added to their firepower while captain Mark Beattie and Chris Rafferty have been there from the very start.
Roscommon’s form has been fairly steady throughout the entire competition, although like Armagh, they also got the better of a team that had already beaten them in the semi-final. Roscommon have lost three of their seven game this year.
All three defeats game in consecutive outings against Sligo, Dublin and Galway. They did get one back over their Connaught neighbours Galway in the last four meeting, setting them up for Saturday’s encounter with Armagh.